Category Archives: God’s Strength

SELAH Daily Devotions!

When He slew them, then they sought Him; and they returned and inquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their Redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with Him, neither were they steadfast in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity and destroyed them not; yeah, many a time turned He his anger away and did not stir up all His wrath. For He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind passeth away, and cometh not again. Psalm 78:34-39

A few years back, (but who’s counting, huh?) Barbara Strissand recorded a hit song entitled ‘Memories’. This song pricked the hearts of all of us! Hence, we all have memories of days gone by that lure us back to the way we were. For some of us, when certain ticker-tapes of past personal experiences cross our minds, immediately we smile. Other flash-backs cause our hearts to flutter, skipping a beat… or two, remembering when. And then there are those special ones that yet…still prompt silent tears to crease our cheeks. Memories, huh? Some are fading and some, we only wish we could forget.

Like all of us, I indeed cling to God’s promises to keep my mind focused, sharp and sound. That being my faith stance, I must confess that—every now and then—I have to cash in what my kids call, one of my ‘senior moments’ vouchers. Now don’t look at me in that tone of voice. Can we be for real? I believe we all suffer a bout of ‘Spiritual Alzheimer’s’—every now and then.

Today’s scripture text recalls how the Israelites’ sporadic attacks of ‘forgetfulness’ provoked God’s wrath as He carried them through the wilderness. Now don’t be so hard on them. Truth be told, any one of us, drapped in this fickle-frail-flesh-frame, are just as prone to spiritual amnesia when it comes to recollecting the Wondrous works of God!

Time and time again, God has proven Himself a Faithful Provider, A Way-Out- of -No-Way, our Rock-in-A-Weary-Land, A Shelter-in our-Storm, A Strong Protector, Committed Redeemer and Eternal Hope of our Salvation.HOWEVERRRR,in spite of our own personal memories of all that God has already done, the moment we’re faced with a new challenge, does our response reflect a confident trust in our Compassionate Merciful God of All Grace? Or do we suddenly forget to remember that if He Did It Before, He’ll Do It Again? Probably not, huh? #ijs…

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

BUT! THANKS BE 2 GOD! EVEN WHEN WE 4GET…GOD ALWAYS REMEMBERS…PRECIOUS MEMORIES, huh?

SELAH Daily Devotions!

And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire and, the bush was not consumed. Exodus 3:2

Moses probably began this day just as he’d began many others. The scripture says, he was doing what he’d normally do; taking care of his father-in-law, Jethro’s, sheep when his day abruptly takes a turn from the mundane to the extremely unusual. Anybody ever been there?

They say, that there’s nothing unusual about finding a bush in the desert, yet it would certainly make anyone stop to ponder, at least momentarily, huh? The scripture said as Moses looked, he noticed that the bush was burning, but it was not consumed. Not only did the fire not burn the bush up, but then the burning bush began to talk.

Wow! God really knows how to get your attention!

Sometimes we’re so pre-occupied with the demands of our 21st Century lifestyles that we miss those Divinely-orchestrated Interruptions. You know how we’re so purpose driven now – that we can’t dare to spare a moment. After all, time is money, right? Amazingly, our society has become so consumed with pursuing our desires, goals, getting our degrees, larger houses, cars, and yes even our families that somehow, we never seem to include God in our time-lines. I mean, really?Ever heard that saying,‘you got what you wanted but you lost what you had’?

I believe, that sometimes God will interrupt our active lives and draw us to the backside of a mountain into a desert place, just to get your undivided attention. In other words, sometimes God starts some bush fires! #ijw

Remember, that situation that seemed to jus pop off out of nowhere and now all of a sudden it’s burning out of control, threatening your peace, your joy, even disturbing your well being. And let’s not forget about that family-drama? I mean, as soon as you think you got it under control, something flares up on your job. The bushes just keep on burning. It jus may be God, trying to tell you something!

Remember how sweet life was, bacndaday? You know, when America was Great! My…my… my, how times have changed, huh? As the ol’ folk used to say, ‘who knew that there’d be days like this!’ Surely, we’re living in the last of the last days, huh? Glancing around, it looks like this whole world has turned upside down!What used to be right, is not called wrong, what used to be in is now out and ain’t nobody got time to seek God for His opinion of nothing no more! Nevertheless, God’s Faithful Compassion refuses to be intimidated by our negligence! #DIDJAHEARDAT?

Remember, God was there, waiting for Moses all along, but it was not until Moses turned aside, did God reveal GODself! The next time you find yourself ambushed by bush fires, instead of pitchin’ a hissy-fit, murmuring. complaining and blaming God, take a moment and seek the face of God. Remember, wherever God is, is Holy ground!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

GOOD MORNING FAM! GOTTA MOMENT! OOOOHHH GLORRRAAAA!

Once again, we are absolutely delighted that you have joined us in our weekly Corporate Prayer and Fasting. My heart is overwhelmed with compassion for all who don’t know who or where to turn to in these days of immorality, deceitfulness, confusion and chaos. While those of us who have placed our personal faith and confidence in the Eternal Word of God are truly privileged and grateful, yet we feel the weightiness of such a burden and responsibility to intercede on their behalf. But By The Amaazing Grace of God, we will continue to look to the hills, from whence cometh our help. Remember, Beloved, all of our help comes from The Lord Jesus Christ! Shall we bow before The Maker of Heaven and Earth?

Abba Father, here we are again! As we hear the call of Holy Spirit, inviting us to seek Thy Face, our hearts reply, Thy Face Oh Lord we seek! We bow in humble and obeisance, basking in the radiant ambiance of Your Magnificent Majesty! We draw nigh to You with our hands lifted high and our hearts rejoicing in Your Sovereignty! For You Are the Self-Existent, Creator and Sustainer of all living creation. With holy-boldness we cry out, knowing that in Your Presence there’s fullness of Joy and at Your Right Hand are pleasures forever more! Sweet Jesus!

Thank You for loving us! Thank You for choosing us Thank You for redeeming us! Thank You for forgiving us! Thank You for keeping us! Thank You for being such a patient and understanding God and Father to us! We know that there was and is nothing in us that merits such loving-kindness, mercy and grace that You’ve poured out upon our lives! From our Mother’ womb You have kept us, carried us, shielded us from dangers seen and unseen. Hear our sincere confession, “If it had not been for the LORD on our side, our enemies would’ve swallowed us up a long time ago!”

We praise You Heavenly Father for directing Holy Spirit to open our eyes and break-thru the shallowness of our stony hearts, revealing to us The Wondrous Grace of Salvation that You have made available to any who will humbly seek and accept the Sacrificial Atonement of Your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ! We bless You for adopting us into Your Royal Family and decreeing us as joint-heirs with Christ!

Sweet Jesus, teach us to see sin through Your eyes and to acknowledge it as evil wickedness and rebellion against the Lover of our souls! And when we sin, quicken our spirit to repent immediately and to confess with our mouth our wrongdoing, that we might receive the Gracious forgiveness of our Heavenly Father!

We bless Your Holy Name, not only because You have forgiven us more than we could ever know, but because over and over You’ve blessed us even when we failed to keep our promises to You! For this we pray, “Abba Father, forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to Your Heart. Holy Spirit, because You have given us the assurance, that as we confess our sin, You are Faithful and Just to forgive, pardon and restore us back into rightful fellowship with You, we ask and thank You NOW for Your forgiveness! For this cause, we gladly present our spirit, soul and body as a living holy sacrifice to be used for Your Greatest Glory! in The Precious Name of Jesus!”

Precious Lord, because no man can come to the Father except You draw them, we intercede on behalf of every unsaved soul, please quicken the Spirit of Godly-repentance in their heart and in their mind that they will come to you today confessing a “sincere Yes”to your Amazing Gift of Grace that they might be able to receive You as their personal Lord and Savior! We’re believing that You will Divinely orchestrate their footsteps settleling them into a local church home today.

Lord, we ask You to put a fresh “committed YES” in the heart and mind of every backslider! Let today be the day that they come back to You and come back to YOUR church where they will wholly submit their lives to the sound teachings of Your Word, and learn to love and live their lives walking to please You First!

Abba, we ask that You encourage and comfort the souls of Your Elect who are overwhelmed with fear, doubt and worry because of the things that are going on in our personal lives and in this ungodly world systems! Send Your assurance with an double-portion-outpouring of Divine Favor upon each who needs encouragement and empowerment to stand steadfast, immovable in the midst of these wicked and evil days! Console and Comfort us to know that we are never alone and never without Your Very Present Help!

Father, we pray that You will touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer, kidney disease, heart/lung disease and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake. Heavenly Father, You are Alpha and Omega, the same yesterday, today and forever! Therefore, even as You walked this earth healing all who were sick, feeble, lame we know that You’re Well Able to do the same right now! Your Word declares that Your stripes have redeemed and healed us and we’re yet standing on your promises that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name! Amen 3x!

Heavenly Father, we pray according to Your Will, for the leaders of our nation, corporate, judicial, education, financial institutions and our churches! We come against the Spirit of rampant immorality, hatred, corruption, deceitfulness, rhetoric ambiguity, racism, bigotry, pride, arrogance, and human-supremacy! We’re asking that You touch the minds and hearts, that You speak to them in dreams and visions letting them know that You Who Sit Enthroned Above the Heavens are keeping record of the deeds of every man’s heart and will reward accordingly!

Heavenly Father, we bring so many others that we’ve failed to mention before Your throne O God. Those who are broken hearten, feeble in mind, body and spirit, the one at a crossroad of life who have no idea where to go or who to turn to, the ones addicted to harmful substances, our armed forces, policemen, fire and rescue personnel, nurses, doctors, pastors and leaders, missionaries far and near; our leaders of the world. We’re trusting You to send peace where there is confusion, send love where there is hate, send unity where there is division. Bless the fatherless and motherless. Keep us ALL in your care. These favors we ask in Jesus mighty name!!

Father we wait in confidence and quietness, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are suddenly trembling in terror and retreating in shameful defeat, because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Abba Father, we stand in agreement with You Who hears ours prayers and forgives our transgressions! Holy Father, because You have chosen to live in Your House, we shout with exceeding Joy unto The Hope of all the earth, believing that as Your face shines upon us, You are making Your Ways and Salvation known among all nations for You Guide and Rule justly!

Father, we thank You NOW, for WE believe that it is done! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen 3X and It Is So!Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT JESUS SAVES!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah…God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Psalm 62:7-8,11

Over the past 50 years, we’ve seen a whole lot of changes. Our society has evolved from being agriculturally dominated, thru industrially dominated, into an age where information technology dominates. Some of you remember what it was like growing up in the country. You worked hard and you played hard, right? But through it all, you were able to maintain a healthy balance between the physical labor of working the fields and the ease of drinking a cold glass of lemonade sitting on the porch come Sunday afternoon.Then, the war came, and many of our brothers went off to war leaving the familiarity of the farms for foreign soil, forcing those left behind into factories working the machinery building weapons, mass production of crops, meat, clothing, etc. The dirt roads and shotgun houses were replaced by concrete paved streets and skyscrapers. The Industrial Age had taken over and the ease of those Sunday mornings vacated and swapped with washing the car, 2 hours at the gym, 3-mile runs, kids soccer games, karate tournaments, or at the very least, I gotta get my stuff ready to go back to work next week!As wars and rumors of wars escalate, so has tension, stress and the push for greater technological advancements. The factories have basically come to a hault as the focus shifted away from meeting the needs of common folk onto which nation will gather the most information proving who’s the best of the best; who’s going to be the first country to put a man on the moon, mars of take over a yet undiscovered universe; who’s gonna build the biggest bomb, and who’s gonna conquer outer space once we blow up this planet. YEAH BABY, WE’VE COME A LONG WAY, huh?Who nu? Here we are in the 21st Century, and for many we got what we wanted, but at what cost? The laughter of our children in the yard jumping double-dutch, playing football, the swish of the ball dropping through a wooden loop, the clicking sounds of cardboard or plastic between the spikes of bikes, roller skates racing down the streets have been silenced by the noise of doors being slammed by rebellious children barricading themselves in their rooms; whispering, texting and yes, even sexing on $500 cell phones/ipads or the clicking of remote controls to $700 video games played on 75-inch flat screen TV’s! Owww Wheeeeee, don’t shout me down now!While we, the parents have bought into the propaganda being dupped with the misguidedphilosopy, “I’m gonna make sure that my baby has it better than I did”, we’ve created a generation of young people who seem to get everything in life they want, yet have nothing to live for.Meanwhile, many of them are engaging in disruptive habits that scream, “LIFE’S A BEACH! I hate myself, and I hate you too. So why not make a pact to commit suicide, or I’m bored so let’s go shoot up a bunch of folk we don’t even know.”Honestly! If you’re not prayerful, it’s easy to allow all the hell of this world to consume your whole life. Yall don’t believe it, huh?Well, it’s gotten to the point now that even the most seasoned saints may ponder the Satanically-induced thought of cutting your own wrist, just to escape the peril of these wicked times.

BUT GOD! Knowing everything that humanity would experience, left it on record to console those who would become weary in well-doing, ‘while we’re in this world—we are not of this world!’ Although, we are not exempt from test, trials and persecution, we are never alone! (Ref. Hebrews 13:5)Precious Saints, when it looks like there’s no point to living for God (aka) living holy and you’ve come to the end of your rope, that’s your clue—not to give up but to take a stand—tie a knot in the rope and hang on! Cling to the Hope of your calling, Jesus Christ—The Living Word of Life!(Ref. Ephesians 1:18) Don’t get it twisted, it ain’t always what it looks like!Remember, when the dusts settles, He Who has called you is Faithful and True (Ref. 1 Thessalonians 5:24; Revelations 19:11) and He Yet Reigns! ALL POWER BELONGS 2 GOD! #Didjaheardat?

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“ In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.

Ever been in that cavernous place, isolated by loneliness and entrapped in a den of hopelessness, despair and Yes, even shame for allowing your circumstances to rupture the confident trust you enjoyed, just a short time ago?

Still confused how quickly things changed hurling you into this momentary pit of discontentment amassed by discouragement and terrorized by ‘what if”, huh?

Truthfully, like David, most of us have been there at some point in our lives! Honestly, quiet as it’s kept, even more of us have experienced extended stays! Yet, by the Grace of The Almighty God, we’ve learned that the way out is looking up! Benevolence always descends! Hence, instead of focusing on what’s going on around you re-set your attention on The One Enthroned above The Heavens.

Gratefully, our Heavenly Father has gifted us with His Precious Holy Spirit! Not only is He able to investigate and translate the moaning of our sorrow-filled souls, but swiftly carries them to The Master’s listening Heart.

As we cry out to Him, much to our delight (yet usually unbeknown to us), Your Presence has crept in, invaded, overshadowed and decapitated the gloominess of this prison cell pulling me up and out of the web that had so easily ensnared my soul. Where fear, doubt and confusion once raged, Your quietness whispers words of consolation, infusing and invigorating my wearied soul with such sweet unspeakable joy. Straight away, my sullen countenance is overwhelmed by the Luster from Your smile as You, in passing, suddenly wink at me!

As we still ‘self’ to listen obediently, You instruct our heart to follow the leading of Holy Spirit into a state of Blissful Peace that’s so far beyond my own understanding.(Ref. Isaiah 26:3)

Coming to myself, I am subliminally aware of my surroundings, and what I believed to be prison is just another developing room where You’re secretly hiding me;making me all that You have destined me to BE—COMES! MY DEVELOPING ROOM! #PURPOSE

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 2 Corinthians 4:17 #Didjaheardat?

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb; He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:19-22

As a remnant of the 20th Century Church, I’ve lived long enough to have a clearer understanding, why The God of The Bible adamantly commanded His Chosen Ones to resist amalgamating with those outside of covenant relationship with Him. (Ref. 2 Corinthians 6:17) And some of us thought that God just wanted to keep us from having any fun! Considering the way this world is headed, now we see the consequences of not…

SELAH Daily Devotions!

When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded, “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God’s judgment? It’s your life that must change, not your skin. And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as ‘father.’ Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire. Luke 3:7-9

Ever asked someone, “Are you saved?” to which they responded, ‘matter-of-factly’,“uuuhhh…Mama told me I been baptized!” or “I belong to First Bed-Rock of The Divine Pentecostal Kingdom Fellowship”Don’t shout me down, now yall….jus wondering?

Seems to be a lot of that going around, huh? We’re living in a world where pretty much everybody’s ‘saved’! I mean, just look at the explosion of ‘Mega Ministries’, that have popped up in this country alone, right?Kinda makes you wonder why Jesus hasn’t returned! Well, may I submit for your consideration, while church attendance is a critical component of our spiritual development,church membership doesn’t make you a Christian any more than living in a garage makes you a car!

I understand how one might be confused, given the ‘mob mentality’ of the more contemporary theological persuasions of The New Millennium Era, that more means better. This is nothing new! According to our scripture text, it’s been going on since the days of John The Baptist! One might wonder, given the number of churches and folk who pour into the buildings any Sunday morning, why we don’t see much change as individuals, in our families, communities,even as a nation?

Simply put, too many folk try to cut across the field, by-pass the cross and creep into the Kingdom through an imaginary backdoor!

That’s why some imposters casually enter the church house,‘carrying their chains, tuck them quietly under the plush pews, sanng, shout, dance up and down the aisle, sit like a bump on a log while the sermon is presented, Hi-5 your neighbor 10x, turn around 7x, repeat the benediction, greet your neighbor, pick up your chains and get back out there and do what u gotta do’!

Beloved! Jesus came not to set up another system of legalistic religious rituals, but to restore the personal intimate relationship, severed by our First Parents, Adam and Eve’s rebellion against the righteous commands of The True and Living God! And when He ascended back to The Throne Room on High, Father God sent The Holy Spirit to live inside of anyone who makes a conscious decision to humble themselves, repent and put their personal faith in The Only Saving Grace of Jesus Christ! The indwelling Presence of The Spirit of Jesus, empowers us to live a holy, separated, consecrated life of triumphant deliverance in the midst of this dark and depraved world! Didjaheardat?

“…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose,” Philippians 2:13

Sadly, despite the finished work of the Cross, Satan has yet been able to keep too many of God’s precious ones, illegally chained to stuff that Jesus has already secured their glorious freedom from!But that’s why we’re here, right? To shine out for God by spreading the Good News,“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36